Working from bed the new Covid lockdown trend

Forget stand up desks – the bed is becoming the new home office as people look to maximise the comforts of working from home.

Bed sales have spiked by up to 500 per cent during Sydney’s lockdown, with residents not only staying in them longer — but even choosing to work from them.

A growing trend for people to swap their desk for a doona was recently uncovered by a British survey which found 40 per cent of people had admitted to working from bed at least some of the time during the pandemic.

And it has caught on here as well among locked-down Sydneysiders like Brookvale resident Eloa Marins.

Eloa Marins beds down for the day. . Picture: Jonathan Ng

The 29-year-old balances a busy schedule as a trainee vet nurse and assistant supervisor of a protein powder company and finds working from bed the best way to organise her day-to-day administration.

“I usually spend around four or five hours a day working in bed … setting the schedules for the production room and packing teams,” Ms Marins said.

“I also have a desk and a comfortable chair but feel it’s quite cramped as it’s in the corner. I work in bed because it’s very comfortable and I am more productive.”

Ms Marins has invested in new bedding and office equipment to kit out the space and ensure it is both comfortable and practical to use.

“I’ve bought new pillows, a back cushion, a soft blanket and a laptop stand,” she said.

“Working at home full time is very challenging [so] you need to be really focused. I also make sure I exercise regularly too.”

Bed expert Darren Nelson from Solace Sleep said: “In the 12 months we have seen 500 per cent growth in our bed sales. Traditionally our market is senior Australians, but we are now seeing a big increase in orders from young professionals, particularly in the cities as NSW extends its indefinite lockdown.’’